Blissfest Arts Recreation Center Project
Mission:
The goal of the Blissfest Arts Recreation Center to create a facility for cultural, recreational and sustainable living experiences that families and individuals can enjoy in a quiet natural setting. The BARC will provide opportunities to connect people with cultural heritage, art, nature and community.
Fall 2011 Update
We are in the process of building a timber frame cabin this fall as well as finalizing plans for the rustic campground construction permit at the Blissfest site and an additional cabin for spring construction. The first cabin is a solar design traditional timber frame style 16 x 24 cabin using native white pine. The timbers were milled at Earthwork Farms and the frame was cut out, sanded and sealed at G.A. Cook Company. The design and construction is being coordinated by Gary Cook at G.A. Cook Company in Maple City. Gary and his family has been a long time Blissfest supporters and volunteers.
The second portable cabin will be constructed next spring and used for our front gate office during the festival and available for rent other times. This cabin will be 12 x 16 with a porch. It will be constructed out of native white pine havested near Douglas Lake. Nelnamar Woodcraft is assisting with design and construction of this cabin. Look for pictures next spring.
Another cabin project is in the prelimonary stages of design which will use red pine harvested next door at the Forest For the Future property. The logs will be made into a full scribed log cabin for the arts center.
Donations to the Arts Recreation Center are still being accepted to help with the capital needed to construct buildings for the center. Contact the office 231-348-7047 or jim@blissfest.org for more information.
Click Here to watch the Blissfest Recreation Center Video
The BARC Center Plan
Following a good deal of strategic planning over the past two years and Emmet County approval of a Special Use Permit the Blissfest Music Organization has embarked on a major capital campaign, its first ever, to support a building project on its 120 acre property in Readmond Township just east of Cross Village. The Blissfest Arts Recreation Center ((BARC) project will provide the infrastructure necessary to accommodate Blissfest’s plans to expand its programming and provide year-round service to the arts community of Northern Michigan.
The primary goal of the Blissfest Arts Recreation Center is to create a facility for cultural, recreational and sustainable living experiences that families and individuals can enjoy in a quiet natural setting. The center will place special emphasis on cultural heritage with performances, dances and workshops. In addition, general recreation activities, ecology and renewable energy education and gardening and farming experiences will be available.
Plans are to build a 7,200 square foot multi-use assembly building to accommodate expanded year round programming, 10 unique resort cabins; 35 permanent campsites; a new multi-use administration/greenhouse facility; and improvements to the existing farmhouse, outbuildings, and main stage.
The Blissfest Arts Recreation site plans call for a residential wind turbine and solar panels on the rooftops of its facilities to provide sufficient energy to meet 40% of the energy needs for the complex year-round.
“We are positioning ourselves to foster positive and managed economic growth in Northern Michigan by concentrating on our natural and cultural resources,” reports executive director and founder Jim Gillespie. “Blissfest is responding to an ever increasing demand for cultural tourism and building on the future of eco-tourism and agricultural tourism in Emmet County.”
Early support for the Blissfest Arts Recreation Center project has come from generous commitments by the Blissfest Board of Directors, from a Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation grant , from a USDA Rural Development Community Facilities loan, and most recently from a $150,000 challenge grant by the Frey Foundation of Grand Rapids.
History and Zoning Approval
The Blissfest Music Organization was awarded a Special Use Permit from the Emmet County Planning Commission to create a year round Blissfest Arts Recreation Center on the Festival Farm on Feb. 5, 2009. The Arts Recreation Center SUP allows for a permanent camping area, cabins, gazebos, gate house and a camp store/greenhouse. Additional infrastructure improvements will include improvements to the main stage area and an addition to our historic farmhouse recently remodeled into a guest house. The center will also include the creation of gardens, nature trails, orchards and demonstration installations of solar and wind renewable energy that will provide power for the facility. The maximum design capacity of the facility accommodations will be 200 people and 300 people on site for any one time. Additional Conditions of use for the Arts Center can be viewed at the following link: Emmet County Planning Commission minutes Feb. 5, 2009
Programming
The primary goal of the Blissfest Arts Recreation Center envisioned by the Blissfest organization is to create a facility for cultural and recreational experiences that families and individual can enjoy in a quiet natural setting. The center will place special emphasis on cultural heritage with performances, dances, arts and craft workshops. and other educational activities. In addition, general recreation activities such as camping, hiking, nature walks and gardening will be available at the facility. Guests and members will be encouraged to participate in developing and maintaining the facility’s gardens, orchards and trails. The center will also feature educational programs and workshops in sustainable farming, renewable energy and appropriate technology building proctices. In addition, the new facility will allow for general recreation opportunities and rentals to community groups and individuals for retreats and receptions.
Capital Campaign
Dale Hull & Associates based in Petoskey, MI has developed the BARC project capital campaign. Dale is experienced with working with cultural organizations and building organization capacity. He has a real passion for the arts and the Blissfest Arts Recreation Center. Dale formerly assisted with the Crooked Tree Arts Center expansion and renovation in Petoskey and was their Executive Director. Besides developing building and site design, the Blissfest BARC Team is working on the quiet and active campaign portion of the project. A capital campaign committee has been selected from the community and board of directors. Work will focus on developing grant proposals to present to a number of private foundations and public grants and implementing a marketing plan that will present the BARC project to the community with opportunities to participate. The marketing plan includes a video profile of the Blissfest Organization and a brochure describing details of BARC Project. View video profile
A Message from our Executive Director and Board of Directors
“Now we are really setting down permanent roots with a center where folk and roots music and dance can grow and flourish in our area. The center will offer community members and visitors the opportunity to experience the beauty of rural Emmet County and encourage community members to participate in Blissfest’s mission to inspire individuals to create art and culture. We are following our Bliss! Growing our own cultural experiences and creating lasting expressions of those experiences. Music is the universal language and a quality of life essential. To be able to explore the diverse music and dance traditions of American and other cultures at a small retreat center in Northern Michigan is a legacy project we aspire too.” Jim Gillespie, executive director
“We are very excited to present this project to the community” Blissfest is combining our well known cultural and arts programming with a sustainable tourism vision. The Festival Farm will be transformed into a center where music and dance combine with ecology, renewable energy and agriculture. To be able to do that on the land that we have such a historical connection with and respect for will be a great advancement for the organization and the community. We will continue to fulfill our dream to create educational experiences that bring people together through music, dance and nature.” Joe Wambold, the Blissfest Organization board president.
Follow the links to right for additional details about the project. To donate to the BARC project click the donate button
